Prairie Dog Policy

The City and County of Broomfield is updating its guiding documents for prairie dogs the Policies for Prairie Dog Management and Conservation and Municipal Code relating to prairie dogs. Review the slideshow from the September 2026 Open Space and Trails Advisory Committee (OSTAC) meeting, current prairie dog policies and municipal code to understand how prairie dogs are currently managed. Then ask questions through the “Questions” tab or give suggestions and comments through the “Ideas” tab below. More opportunities to provide input will be available in 2027.

Project Overview

The City and County of Broomfield is updating its 2003 Prairie Dog Conservation and Management Policies and 2004 Municipal Code. These updates will incorporate updated science, modern best practices and improved enforcement strategies. The updates will streamline permitting, refresh community outreach and address emerging management topics.

Extensive public engagement will be used to make these updates. Community feedback will be used to shape and refine the content of the updated Policies and Code. OSTAC will make a recommendation to Broomfield Council on the updated Policy and Code. These recommendations will then be submitted to Broomfield Council for final approval.

Public Engagement

The original policies were shaped a lot by community feedback. This update will also be refined through community comments and questions, OSTAC guidance, Broomfield Council comments and best science. Some of the topics that will be addressed in the updated policy based on resident comments over the years will include:

• Clarifying management options for property owners including mitigation methods
• Overhauling the permitting process
• Addressing management of the urban prairie dog interface
• Adding passive relocation

This web page will be a place for community feedback throughout the course of the project. In 2027, the community will be able to engage at neighborhood pop up tents, select OSTAC meetings and a project open house.